The Future of Travel Will Drive Itself

PHOTO: People are concerned with safety of self-driving cars. (photo via Flickr/Automobile Italia)

The next generation of transportation is coming upon us faster than we think, and it’s looking pretty out of this world.

Supersonic travel, self-driving cars, space travel—it’s pretty much all on the table.

Right now, travelers are not all-in on high-tech transport, however. Interest levels for travel through outer space, via flying car or even in self-driving cars is only around 22-27 percent according to a survey released by Allianz Global Assistance.

A lack of familiarity with the technology or that perceived expensiveness isn't contributing to disinterest. For the most part, people are concerned about safety, particularly when it comes to self-driving cars.

In its Future of Travel survey, Allianz found that safety concerns overshadowed the excitement when it comes to the next generation of transportation.

“While transportation technology is poised to change the way Americans travel, safety has emerged as a top concern,” said Daniel Durazo, director of communications at Allianz Global Assistance USA.

“We expect consumers to be more hesitant in adopting new technologies like the artificial intelligence steering self-driving vehicles than they might be with existing technologies such as space and supersonic travel that have been developed but are not yet available to the masses.”

Sixty-five percent of those surveyed said that they weren’t interested in trying out new self-driving technology right now because they had “safety concerns.”

Farther in the future, however, things are looking up—literally. Sixty-four percent said that self-driving cars will develop to be safe enough for them to consider using, and that goes for other futuristic modes of travel such as self-driving cars and flights to space.

Hyperloop high-speed rail travel is something 64 percent of people believe will be a safe travel method in the future. Supersonic travel is also perceived as safe down the road, with 56 percent saying as much. Fifty-one percent of those surveyed believe that space travel will be safe someday, and 49 percent see people safely traveling via flying cars at some point.

Still, while people have at least some confidence in the safety of these modes of transportation, not many are “very confident” in their safety. Just 23 percent think that self-driving cars will be really safe, followed by 22 percent of people having confidence that hyperloop high-speed rail will be secure.

Still, what fun is there in travel when there is no risk involved? That’s what travel insurance is for.

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